OT: Best guitar solos of all time?

The haunting slide guitar solo by Rick Vito on Bob Seger's "Like A Rock" was immortalized by a truck commercial 25 years after it was recorded.
Clapton's "Layla" is as good as it gets.
Anything by Lindsay Buckingham.
 
Astonishing that the Allman Brothers are not more commonly mentioned on this thread. Duane's solos on Mountain Jam are his best claim to genius. Hotlanta and Elizabeth Reed are smokin' as well. Duane and Dickey on Blue Sky are just magical.

I saw that Stranglehold, will raise you James Gang"s (joe walsh) Stop

And while not usually a solo practioneer, Pete Townshend on Young Man Blues off of Live at Leeds is crazy good - prescient of heavy metal at times with Wes Montgomery flourishes in the mix.
 
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Beauty is in the ear of the listener, for sure.
However, the problem with the question is that many people confuse virtuosity with "musicality". Imho, a great solo requires both.
There are lots of amazing technical solos that lack "musicality". I am not a player, but my best friend is. He listens for what he terms "ideas", which is musicality delivered while improvising on the melody. Mere technical proficiency without ideas (say, Alvin Lee), does not meet the criteria.
With that as context, I submit in no particular order:

Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter - "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
Jeff 'Skunk Baxter - "Do It Again"
Prince - "Computer Blue"
Don Felder - "I Can't Tell You Why"
Don Felder - "One of These Nights"
Jimmy Page - "Since I've Been Lovin' You"
Mick Taylor - "Winter"
Mick Taylor - "Time Waits For No One"
James Honeyman-Scott - "Mystery Achievement"
Carlos Santana - "Samba Pa Ti"
Wes Montgomery - "Bumpin' On Sunset"
Dickie Betts - "(Sweet) Melissa"
Eddie Van Halen - "Beat It"
 
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vranderson1 said:
Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter - "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
Prince - "Computer Blue"
Don Felder - "I Can't Tell You Why"
Jimmy Page - "Since I've Been Lovin' You"
Mick Taylor - "Winter"
Mick Taylor - "Time Waits For No One"
James Honeyman-Scott - "Mystery Achievement"
Carlos Santana - "Samba Pa Ti"
Wes Montgomery - "Bumpin' On Sunset"
Click to expand...

Samba Pa Ti is awesome. It was my ring tone for a while. I saw him last July. It was great to hear him play it.
 
k2lwalsh said:
2. Roger Waters - Comfortably Numb
Both guitar solos are placed perfectly in the song. I love how smooth Waters is, he just let's it flow out so effortlessly.
Click to expand...

facepalm.jpg
 
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1. Finale of Hotel California (Joe Walsh)
2. 4:30 mark of Dogs by Pink Floyd (David Gilmour)
3. Finale of Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits (Mark Knopfler)
4. Texas Flood by SRV
5. Intro to Shine on You Crazy Diamond (David Gilmour)
6. Finale of White Room (Eric Clapton)
7. 6:00 mark of Echoes by Pink Floyd (David Gilmour)
8. All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix
9. Finale of Starship Trooper by Yes (Steve Howe)
10.Finale of The Camera Eye by Rush (Alex Lifeson)
 
Man, can’t believe no one has listed Randy Rhodes solo in Mr. Crowley, that one stops me in my tracks and never gets turned off, also Kirk Hammett's solo in One is pretty BA...
 
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vranderson1 said:
Beauty is in the ear of the listener, for sure.
However, the problem with the question is that many people confuse virtuosity with "musicality". Imho, a great solo requires both.
There are lots of amazing technical solos that lack "musicality". I am not a player, but my best friend is. He listens for what he terms "ideas", which is musicality delivered while improvising on the melody. Mere technical proficiency without ideas (say, Alvin Lee), does not meet the criteria.
With that as context, I submit in no particular order:

Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter - "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"
Jeff 'Skunk Baxter - "Do It Again"
Prince - "Computer Blue"
Don Felder - "I Can't Tell You Why"
Don Felder - "One of These Nights"
Jimmy Page - "Since I've Been Lovin' You"
Mick Taylor - "Winter"
Mick Taylor - "Time Waits For No One"
James Honeyman-Scott - "Mystery Achievement"
Carlos Santana - "Samba Pa Ti"
Wes Montgomery - "Bumpin' On Sunset"
Dickie Betts - "(Sweet) Melissa"
Eddie Van Halen - "Beat It"
Click to expand...
I love your inclusion of Felder and Taylor contributions on your list. They are often overlooked.
 
Miamihorns said:
Not a single guitarist solo but the three part hand off solos on “Carry That Weight” off Abbey Road. Paul hands off to John who hands off to George for 3 rotations.

Classic
Click to expand...

This is what I thought of first. I read recently that they were about to leave the studio when they realize they needed to do the guitar solo. Yoko started to return with John when he told her just to wait-this would only take a minute. Then they did it in one take. It sounds so seamless that until I read about that, I had always believed that George did the whole thing.
 
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Too lazy to look up right now, but the guy with Ten Years After on Want to Change the World
 
k2lwalsh said:
1. SRV - Little Wing.. One of the only pieces of music that change whatever mood I'm in.
Don't think there will be too much argument on my number 1, especially on this board.

2. Roger Waters - Comfortably Numb
Both guitar solos are placed perfectly in the song. I love how smooth Waters is, he just let's it flow out so effortlessly.

3. Jimi - All Along the Watchtower - He was just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. He would have taken music to places it will never see now. Just think how much better guys like SRV and Clapton could have been had Jimi was around to push them.
Click to expand...
SRV’s version of Voodoo Child is tops for me.
 
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k2lwalsh said:
1. SRV - Little Wing.. One of the only pieces of music that change whatever mood I'm in.
Don't think there will be too much argument on my number 1, especially on this board.

2. Roger Waters - Comfortably Numb
Both guitar solos are placed perfectly in the song. I love how smooth Waters is, he just let's it flow out so effortlessly.

3. Jimi - All Along the Watchtower - He was just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. He would have taken music to places it will never see now. Just think how much better guys like SRV and Clapton could have been had Jimi was around to push them.
Click to expand...
Here's one to test your music knowledge. Saw this group back in the mid 70's at the armadillo. Absolute top 5 live act I've aver seen, and I was at the armadillo for zapa. Great guitar solo

 
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As noted David Gilmour not Roger (he's the bass player)

I watched their performance of Comfortably Numb @ Live Aid night before last...damn near brought a tear to me eye. They should take the Eagles' (as should The Eagles w Don Felder) mandate & "GET OVER IT!"

Richard Wright's gone already, David's about 75 & I hold out hope one day he & Roger grow the f up & stand together to announce a Pink Floyd tour...

It'd break every record ever!
 
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278horn said:
Personally the ones that grab me......1. Terry Kath 25 or 6 to 4, 2. Jimi Hendrix Stone Free. 3.Berton Averre (The Knack) My Sharona. 4.Dweezil Zappa Let's Talk about it. 5. Eric Clapton Little Wing.
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Was going to put forth 25 or 6 to 4 as well, but you beat me to it. :)
 
I'm going to throw in a couple of solos that I've always though were fantastic and funky as hell.

The one and only Ace Frehley.



 
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So many great solos. Here's a couple more

1. Sails of Charon - Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions)
2. People Get Ready - Jeff Beck Cover (Rod Stewart vocals)
3. Europa - Santana
4. Kid Charlemagne - Larry Calrton
5. Wait - Vito Bratta (White Lion)
 
k2lwalsh said:
1. SRV - Little Wing.. One of the only pieces of music that change whatever mood I'm in.
Don't think there will be too much argument on my number 1, especially on this board.

2. Roger Waters - Comfortably Numb
Both guitar solos are placed perfectly in the song. I love how smooth Waters is, he just let's it flow out so effortlessly.

3. Jimi - All Along the Watchtower - He was just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. He would have taken music to places it will never see now. Just think how much better guys like SRV and Clapton could have been had Jimi was around to push them.
Click to expand...
Recuerdos de la Alhambra (tremolo) played by Andres Segovia
 
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